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(ModeL) I F. P. SIMONDS.

Apparatus for Treeing Boots.

No. 232,078, Patented Sept. 7,1880.

WITNESSES: mvmron:

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FRANK P. SIMONDS, OF NATIGK, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND D. H. L. GLEASON, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR TREEING BOOTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,078, dated September 7, 1880.

' Application filed May 0. 1880. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. SIMONDS, ot' Naticlt, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Method and Apparatus for Treeing Boots, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple device and method whereby the work of treeing boots may be performed more rapidly, economically, and efficiently.

The invention relates to certain improvements in an apparatus for treeing boots; and these will first he described in connection with the drawings, and then pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device with front plate removed to exhibit the operating parts. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the device on line 00 at, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, Arcpresents the bed-plate supporting the tree-block B and standards 0 C. D is a horizontal shaft journaled on the top of said standards 0 G, and carrying keyed upon it the eccentrics E E, each of which is provided with a fixed eccentric-rod, E E, which rods E E move reciprocatingly up and 0 down when the device is in operation.

F represents a swinging frame composed of the back plate, F, that is suspended by the rods E E from the shaft 1), and of the front plate, F, that is secured over the back plate,

3 5 F, to cover certain of the operating parts of the device and hold them in position. The back plate, F, is provided with two vertical parallel slots, to a, that extend downward from its upper edge, and in said slots to a, the sides of which may be tongued or grooved, are the sliding blocks G G, to which the lower ends of the eccentric-rods E E are hinged. Pivoted on the inner face of the back plate, F, near the inner and lower corner of the slots a a, and hanging with their backs in contact and their free ends projecting at opposite sides of the frame F, are the angular blocks or takeups H H, that are provided with sheaves b b in their free ends.

I I are sheaves fastened on the inner face of the plate F, for aiding in maintaining aproper tcnsion of the actuating-cords M M.

K is a sliding plate having a pointed upper end and sloping shoulders, as shown at e c, and arched lower end, as shown at d, and provided with tongues f fon each face and near and parallel with its edges, and said sliding plate is set centrally between the plates F F, so that its top shall be between the take-ups H H, its tongues f f engaged in the corre- 6o spending vertical grooves g gin the inner faces of the front and back plates, F F, and its lower end projecting below the frame F. The lower end of this sliding plate Kis prolonged downward on either side or edge into curved ears h h, to the ends of which ears are pivoted the depending strap-guides LL, which guides L L consist each of a vertically-hanging bar,

m, that is preferably slightly curved on its inner face, as shown, and has pivoted in its forked lower end a wheel, a, that projects slightly beyond the inner face of said bar, while joined to the back of the bar m, at about its central point and at right angles thereto,

is the handle 0, in whose central mortise or slot, 1), is a wheel, q.

The actuating-cords M M have each an end secured to a sliding block, G, and the other end to one end of the strap N,of leather or other elastic material, the two cords M M passing down on opposite sides from the blocks G and in contact with the inner edges of the sheaves I, then outward over the sheaves b b of the take-ups H H, and then in ward over the sheaves 1, respectively, to be united to the strap N. The bight of the strap N is held against the wheels n a, while the ends of said strap are passed up through the mortises p in contact with the wheels q q of the handles 0. Said cords M M and strap N combined are snffi- 9o ciently long to permit the ready apglication of said strap N to any portion of the leather or boot on the boot-tree.

0 represents a boot-tree secured in a horizontal position, toe upward, against the tree- 5 block B by means of a screw, s, and on said tree 0 is a boot, P.

The parts being in position shown in Fig.

1, the operator takes a handle, 0, in each hand and presses downward, so as to bring the strap 10o N down upon the boot P. Power being then applied to the shaft D, the eccentrics E E are thereby alternately moved up and down, thereby drawing, by means of their rods E E and blocks G G, the cords M M up and down alternately, so that the strap N is drawn transversely across the bOOt P, to smooth, stretch, and shape it upon the tree 0. As the work progresses the operator moves the strap N longitudinally along the boot P in any required direction by means of the guides L L, and as he moves the said strap N toward the top of the boot the sliding plate K is pressed up and between the takeups H H, with the effect of spreading said take-ups apart, with their free ends extending fart-her and farther outward to take up the slack and maintain the proper tension of the said cords M M and strap N, and as the strap is then moved toward the instep of the boot, and the plate R thereby drawn out, the take-ups H H still preserve the proper tension of strap and cords.

The strap and cords may be made in one piece, if desired, in which case that portion of it that rubs over the boot should be stouter than the rest, to compensate for the extra strain and wear upon it.

It is found that with this device the operator can apply the strap N to any part of the boot that is being treed, the wheels at a enabling him to press the said strap N into any curve of the boot.

It will be seen, then, that the boot is treed by drawing the strap N lengthwise across or partly around the boot, and at the same time pushing said strap N from toe to top of the boot, or in other desired direction, pressing the bight of the strap down at the same time with requisite force upon the boot.

It is obviously impossible in treeing to touch all parts of a boot effectively with a strap held in the hand; but in this device the guides will direct the strap to such parts of the boot that cannot otherwise be reached.

It is well known that treeing boots by hand is a very slow and laborious process; but with this device and method three men-one to wet the boots, one to handle the strap-guides, and another to dress the boots over after they are removed and drywill do as much work as seven or eight men when treeing by hand, and will produce better results than can be done by hand-work.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an apparatus for treeing boots, the combination, with the strap N, guides L, and. cords M M, of the shaft D, eccentrics and rods E E, swinging frame F, sliding blocks G, pivoted blocks or take-ups H H, sheaves I I, and sliding plate K, operated substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In an apparatus for treeing boots, the combination, with the strap N, of the pivoted guides L, provided with wheels n q, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In an apparatus for treein g boots, the swinging frame F, substantially as herein shown and described, adapted to support the take-ups H H, sheaves I I, sliding blocks G, cords M M, and strap N, as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for treeing boots, the combination, with the guides .L, cords M, and strap N, of the sliding plate K and take-ups H H, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said cords and straps are preserved at the required tension, as set forth.

5. In an apparatus for treeing boots, as a means for moving the take-ups H H, to preserve the required tension of the strap N, the sliding plate K, all arranged substantially as herein shown and described.

FRANK P. SIMONDS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM N UTT, J. R. FAIRBANKS. 

